Reverse gear mechanism



Aug. 2, 1932. F. N. BARD REVERSE GEAR MECHANISM s sheets-sheet 1 Filed Nov. 6, 1926 Aug 2, 1932 F. N. BARD REVERSE GEAR MECHANISM Filed Nov. 6, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fil TROC/fr @Maw-6 Aug. 2, 1932. F. N. BARD REVERSE GEAR MECHANISM Filed Nov. 6, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet Z.

Zur/675337? (ces f Patented Aug. 2, 1932 FRANCIS NORWOOD BARI), OF HIGHLAND PRK, ILLINOIS REVERSE GEAR MECHANISM O `Application filed November This invention relates broadly to fluid pressure operated devices, andmore particularly pertains to an improved fluid pressure operated motor for transmitting motion,vand

5 especially adapted for use in reversing or application of fluid pressure; the provisionV of improved means for imparting and controlling motion under the application of manual and fluid pressures; the provision of improved means for imparting rectilinear motion through the application of fluid pressure; the provision of improved motion transmitting means; the provision of improved motion transmitting means characterized by the embodiment therewith of iinproved motion translating means; the provision of an improved fluid operated motion transmitting device; the provision of an improved fluid operated motion transmitting 35. device characterized by the provision of im-y proved motion translating means and adjusting means therefor.

This invention is further characterized byr the provision of an improved reverse gear g' *D operating unit including improved motion translating mechanism and means for adjusting the relationship of the parts thereof;

the provision of an improved reversing gearl m operating unit including an improved construction of the bearings of moving parts thereof; the provision of an improved reverse gear operating unit iiicludinga cylinder, a piston movable therein, av rocker arm q actuated thereby and improved(` adjusting means for said rockervarm; the provision of e, 192e.` seriai No. 146,692.

an improved reverse gear operating-unit in#V` cluding an improved lubricating method and means; the provision of a fluid pressure opeiated device including an improved arrangev ment of controlling valve mechanism; the provision of an improved reverse gear operating unit including an improved construc- Y tion of motion transmitting element and` thrust bearing therefor; and the provision of an improved reverse gear'operating unit including all of the advantages above set forthy and formed as a structure which may be bodily installed in'a desirable location for connection to the reverse gear mechanism, `together with such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear. v

This invention is still further characterized by the provision of an improved construction of manually operating means wherein minute degrees of adjustment may k7o be attained and held for setting the reverse l gear loperating mechanisml in a position to` attain the most desirable results.v v f The foregoing and such other objects and advantages such as will appear ormay be 7 pointed out as this description proceeds are attained in the structural embodiment illustratedv in the accompanying drawings in which: Y

Figure l is a side elevational view vof the so device of this invention and the manuallyr controlled means thereof, y Figure 2 is anjenlarged elevational view partly shown in a section ofthe device of this invention, i

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the device of this ,inventionv as seen from fthe aspect of the left hand end of Figure 2,

VFigure'lis a vertical sectional-view taken on the line 1 -4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by'thearrows, Y f

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the y manually operating means, and Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the-line 6-6 ofrFigureil looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

` Referring now more particularly tothe drawingsv and first in general to' Figure" 1, there is provided l y end, a removable head'6, said head being a cylinder 5 having, atone 166 y fixedly retained on the cylinder bythe provision of bolts 7, or the like, fastened through lianges Sformed on the cylinder and on said head.

At or near the opposite end of the cylinder, there is provided, preferably integrally With the cylinder, a Vpiston housing 9 provided c With a laterally extending portion 10 forming a suitable bearing or bearings, as Will hereinafter be p'ointed'out. Y' Y f- The housing 9 is connected to the cylinder 5 by a vertical Web 11 vvhiohserves to reinforce the entire structure at this point. The housing 9 forms an enclosure fora movable element ofthe device to be hereinafter described, and also serves to support bearings v. for this element, the lovver end of the'hous'ing being reduced in size, as atY l2, for a purpose .Whichvvill' presently appear.

The cylinder 5 is provided with a piston 17, slidable therein andconnected by a re' taining nut 18 to the reduced end of a piston rod 19, said piston rod, as above shown in Figure 4, being substantially senil-cylindrical and extending through the axial opening 14 into the auxiliary housing 15 incertain positions, as vvilljher-einafter appear.

The cylinder 5 and the housing 9 and por Y and foot portion' 13 form ai single casting,

. tions 20, 2O are Aprovided thereon for facilihausted from the cylinder by the provision tating secureinent rigidly of the castingto an the motion of the ,piston may be imparted to the valve gear mechanism. y

Fluid under pressure is admitted and ex-V of passagevvays 21 and 22 formed in'an enlargedportion l23 of th-e peripheral Wall Vof thejcylinder, preferably in apposition beneath said cylinder When in vnormal position on a locomotive, andiliuid under pressure is admitted to said passageivays and exhausted therefrom by the provision ofV a' Vvalve 24 demountablyr secured to the cylinder and controlling the communication from a suitable fluid supply pipe 25 to said Ypassagevvays 21 andr22. ,The valve isnot` shown indetail because vthe general structure thereof is subject to variation but a desirable forni of. the valve is described, and claimed in the application of- Bertram, Serial' Ingeneral, the valve includes a disc (not shotvn)- Within the casing shown ait-24 andv having a valve'stem or shaft 26 on Which is secured an operating lever 27, Which latter is Y connected at 28 to a toggle lever 29, said lever 29 being oscillatable about the connection 28, the latter thereby forming a fulcrum for the lever 29, as will hereinafter appear.

The lower end of thelever 29 is connected by a short reach rod 30 to manual operating means, generallyindicatedat 31 in Figure 1, located inthe cab of the locomotive or at any other convenient point. The manual Will be described hereinafter.

vrlhe valve gear operating unit further includes, Withthe piston 17, a piston rod 19 and verticallydisposed motion transmitting elements including aWorm 32, formed integrally ,With a shaft 33, the latter being reduced in diameter, as at 34, and formed vto provide a pinion 35 which meshes With gear teeth 30 formedon thefat side of the piston rod 19. The piston rod cannot'rotate in the Aopening 14 or inthe auxiliaryv housing-15 for the reason that the flatsurface of said piston rod, beingA engaged With the pinion 35, is prevented against such rotation. However, the piston rod is free to slide in response to fluid pressure imposed upon the piston v17 and thereby impart rotation to the pinion 35, and Worm 32.

ItYWill be observed-thatthe Worm 32, disposed in the upper enlarged portion of the housing 9, is provided with a packed thrust bearing 37 belovv theportion 33, which serves alsoV for the retention of a lubricant, the mo-` 'tionr transmitting element including said.

Worm and inion beine further extended in reduced portion 12 of the housing 9 toA prevent tortional strains or `vibration yof the Worm or pinion in operation.l A suitable cap available part of a locomotive between thrill() is threaded into the open end of the part vvalve gear mechanism and the cab, whereby 12 toprevent the ingress of dust and foreign matter to the housing,andfor retaining a lubricant. 'Obviously, Whilethe Worm and pinion ar'eintegrally formed, this construetionis not indispensable.

The upper end of the housing 9 is provided vvith a closure 41y secured thereon by the provision of bolts and nuts 42 and having an outvvardly extending` flange'and cylindrical reduced portion 44 above the Worm so that vibration of the Worm at this point is adequately prevented; In ordertoprevent chattering of the Worm, that is, reciprocation thereof in operation, I provide althrust bearing carried by the cap or closuremember 41. This thrust bearing includes the cap inemberlvvhich may be of cast iron and a thrust bearing platel45, Apreferably of forged steel provided with a threaded extension 46 threadedinto'the capV 41and provided With a. cross groove 4Z'Whereby its adjustment may be conveniently attained from outside the housing.

Beneath the thrust plate 45' I provide'steel and bronze thrust plates'48 Which engage the Hat upper end of the portion 44. The pressure .thrust plate 45 is locked in position by the provision of a lock Washer 49 threaded on to the extension 46. y

Lubricant may be'conveniently introduced f by providing an oil duct 56 through the entension 46 and applying an oil cup 51 to said duct. A spanner Wrench may be employed for rotating the extension 46 as desired.

The motion of the Worm in either direction is transmitted to a rocker arm andvthis motion is, in turn, transmitted to the valve gear mechanism and to "the control valve, as will hereinafter appear.

The enlarged extending portion 10 of the casing 9 serves, as previously pointed eut,"`to support bearings for a shaft 52 which latter is suitably supported in bearing supported members, one-half of the bearing being formed, as shown at 53, in the enlargement 10, and the other half of said bearing lbeing removable, as indicated at 54. Suitable bushings 55, 55, which form kthe bearings proper, are mounted in the bearing supports 53 and 54 and are rotatable therein, said bushings being mounted in rbores in the bearing members which are leccentric to the axis of the shaft so `that rotation of said 'bushings will cause a lateral displacement of-said shaft toward and away from the Worm as desired. On the medial portion of the shaft52 inthe housing 10 and in proper alignment Withthe Worm 32 I provide a segmental gear 56 removable With the shaft 52 yand meshing With the threads of the Worm 32. Rotation of thel Worm causes rotation of the shaft 52 vbyangular displacement of the segmental gear 56 Within predetermined limits.

In order to impart motion from Athe shaft 52 and to prevent lateral twisting or other undue strain on .said shaft,`I provide rocker arms 57 and 58 ixedly secured,y as at 59,60, to opposite ends of the shaft` 52 outside the casing and extending downwardly on either side of the auxiliary housing 15 sufficiently spaced apart so as not to come in contact with any of the stationary parts of the device, said rocker arms being jointly connected, as at 61, to th-e adjacent end 62 of the long reach rod 63. The long reach rod` 63 extends to. the tumbling shaft of a standard VValschaert` valve gear or other steam'engine 4reversing It Will be obvious that the motion of the piston in either direction is' imparted tothe Worm to cause rotation thereof yand hence oscillation or angular displacement of `.the

thereby 4the reciprocation :of the long'reach rod 63 for reversing the engine'orfor. regusegme'ntal gear A56 and rocker arms 57, and` larting the cut olf. vAny tendency vfor the Jengine reverse gear mechanism to changen its?Y lsettilig is arrested by virtue ofthe inability of the seg-mental gear :to move thegvorm, the Worm thus forming a lock for the `valve position 'of' cut off;

" By the .provision of ing in its bearings, but that by adjustment oi' gear'mechanism for retaining in adesired the thrust bearings,.it is obvious that` theV vvorm is not only prevented from chattering, that is,-reciprocat7 the segmental gear 56 and the Worm, owing to Wear or for any other reason', may 'be prevented and thus a slippingof the valves-of -the engine due to llost l:motion between the ref` verse gear mechanism and the operating unit is substantially .entirely eliminated.

The device of this invention must, as Will be readily appreciated,be-provided With some i method for'preventing movementof the is#A ton'beyond a predetermined point desire by the engineman. 4This isfaccomplished vby connectingv the control valve not-onlyto the manual operating means but as Well vtothe rocker arms 57, so .that said varms in their movement tend to close the valvevorbring it to lap position after a'predetermined movement of the piston has taken kplace-corre- Y sponding to the degree of displacement of the valve by'manual means. In other Words,y

When the manual'meansis moved to open they valve', the valve gear operating unit auto-v .matically moves to a predetermined point,`

lat the same timegradually closing the valve or bringing Vit to lapvposition, whereupon movement of the valve gear operatingunit ceases. A

This is accomplished` by connecting the up- A per end of the toggle lever 2971 to the rocker arm 57 by means of a link 64 pivotally con nected at65,to the toggle lever 29 and, at66 .to rocker arm' 57.`

The manual operating means of the present invention may be of any desired `form which will cause reciprocation of the short toggle lever .29 about the oint 65as a fulcrum for moving the valve in its housing, but.,

in the present instance, I preferto employ lthe manual operating means above shown in venient part of the locomotive, preferably 'near the en 'neers osition .on the boiler head inthe cab. This frame includes the fulcrum' portion 68 havingy a -fulcrum ybolt n69 on which' the reverselever 70 is pivoted, andthe frame also includes the ,r'adialarms reach. rod 30 andf'hence displacement of the a friction block 79 provided With a comple- -mental face is adapted to slide vertically on Y the slot 8l inthe reverse lever 7 0 and also. serves to Vconnect a link 82 to the friction :vision of a cap screvv 83 also sliding insaid.

"'71, 71 and-thevintermediate arm 72, all-connectedas a'single casting and supporting as an vintegral part thereof the arcuateY lock bar 7 3.

The'A lower end of the revers-e rlever 70` is f j va cylinder, a piston movable therein, a pisconnected, as at 74, tothe short reach .rod 30, and the upper end of the lever `70'is provided With a friction lock mechanisml` in-` cluding, a hand grip member 75, spring76 actuating same outwardly, and-pivote'd,-as at 77, to the reverse lever. rIhe lockl bar 7 3 isprovided With divergi-ng upperfaces fornithe reverse lever and-engage saidlockbar. The friction rblock 79 -is ,providedvvithj a pin 80 forming a guide which passes through block and to .the hand grip 75. rIhe block is prevented against rotation byl the proslot. 8l.v "The spring 76 tends to force the friction block 79 on to the lock bar 78, thereby retaining the reverse lever in various .po-

sitions, as determined by the engineman.

The absence of teeth onvthe lock bar permits of fine adjustment of the control valve and hence fine adjustment of the reverse gear mechanism. and theV cut off. In order that the engineman may accurately vdetermine the 1 neutral point, the lock bar is provided With a recess '84 facing the reverse lever, and-the latter vcarries a detent 85 spring pressed by means of the flat spring 86 to engage in the recess 84C when in the neutral position.

I-Iaving thus described my inventionland illustrated its use, what Iclaim as new andA desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a reverse gear operating mechanism,

axial alinement, said pinion engaging said teeth, an oscillating lever provided With a Worm gear operatively engaging said Worm,

" and means for laterally adjusting the. fulcrum of said lever. l

' 2. In a reverse gear operating mechanism,

` av cylinder, a piston movable therein,'a piston rod actuated by said piston and provided with gear teeth, a Worm and a pinion in axial alinement, said pinion engaging said teeth,

thrust bear-ings fork'said Worm, an oscillating lever provided With a Worin gear oper-V atively engaging said Worm, andmeans fork y laterally adjusting the fulcrumo-ff said lever.

VV3. In a reverse gear' operating mechanism,.-

a cylinder, a. piston movable therein, fapiston rod actuated by said pistonA and proj 'vided With'gear teeth, a Worm and a Vpinion in axialalinement, said pinion engaging said teeth, upper and lovver bearingsfor `.said Wormrand pinion, one'of said 'bearings being adjustable, an oscillating: leverjprovided Y.with a Worm gear operatively engaging said Worm, and means for laterallyadjusting the fulcrum of said lever. Y i

l 4. In a reverse gear operatingmeohanism,

ton rod actuated by said piston and provided With gear teeth, a vvorm anda pinionin axial alinement, said V Vpinion rengaging said teeth,

upper andloWerv bearings for lsaid Worm `and pinion, one of said bearingsA being an adjustablethrust bearing, an oscillating lever provided'vvith a Worm gear operatively engagingy said Worm, and means'forlaterally adjusting the fulcrum of saidlever.

5. In a reverse gearfactuating mechanism, the combination With a cylinder and a piston operable therein, and a rotatable member arrangedv at an angle tothepiston and means lconnecting .said piston'. and rotatable member, of means for adjusting said rotatable member along its axis including a thrust bearing member having a socket receiving one end of said rotatable member, thrust bearing member in said socket,fand a [motion translating element connected to the reverse gear and to krotatable element.

6. In a reverse; gear actuating mechanism, the combination WithV a cylinder and apiston operable therein, and a rotatablemember ar- Vranged rat' an angle to the piston andmeans connecting said piston and rotatable member, of means for adjusting said rotatable lmember along its axis including a thrust bearing member having a socket receiving one end of said rotatable member, thrust bearingmember in' said socket, an oscillatable elementV connected to the reverse gear and mounted on an axis transversely of said rotatable element, and means for adjusting the axis'of saideoscillatable element transversely of the axis of said rotatable'element.` y j 7. In a vreverse gear actuating mechanism, the combination With a cylinder and a piston operable therein, and a rotatable member arranged at an angle Vto the piston and means connecting said piston and rotatable member,

yof means for adjusting said rotatable member along its axis including a thrust bearing meml ber having a socket receiving one end of said rotatable member, thrust bearing member in said socket, an oscillatable elementconnected to the reverse gear and mounted on an axis transversely of said rotatable element, and means for adjusting the axis of said oscillatable element transversely of the axis of said rotatable element, said last named means including eccentric supporting bushings.

y 8. In' a device of the character described, in combination, arectilinearly movable piston, a revolubleV element to be moved thereby kand angularly disposed With respect to the plane of movement` ofthe piston, a 'Worm axially Varranged to be driven by said revoluble element, an oscillatable, elementen Van iso i axis at right angles to said Worm and vhaving a Worm gear engaging the latter, and adjustable bearings for said revoluble element and Worm for longitudinally adjusting the latter relatively to said Worm gear for taking up lost motion.

9. In a device of the character described, in combination, a reetilinearly movable piston, a revoluble element to be moved thereby and angularly disposed with respect to the plane of movement of the piston, a Worm axially arranged to be driven by said revoluble element, an osoillatable element on an axis. at right angles to said Worm and having a Worm gear engaging the latter, adjustable bearings v for said revoluble element and Worm for longitudinally adjustingthe latter relatively to said Worm gear for taking up lost motion, bearings for said Worm gear and oscillatable element, and means for adjusting the last mentioned bearings to move the Worm gear toward and aWayrom said Worm.

10. In a reverse gear mechanism, a cylinder, a piston movable therein, a piston rod connected to the piston, a Worm and a pinion in aXial alinement operated by said piston rod, a rook shaft and a Worm gear thereon engaging said Worm, in a pblane at an angle thereto and to said piston earings for said Worm gear, means for adjusting said bearings Vlaterally to and from said Worm, bearings for said Worm and pinion, and means for adjusting said last named bearings for longitudinally adjusting said Worm and pinion.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

FRANCIS NORWOOD BARI). 

